Single-trigger firearm.



PATENTE-D SEPT. 6, 1904.

H. E. WINANS. SINGLE TRIGGER FIREARM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 6, 1903 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

I I II-H .LII

w m. WE m m A TTOHNE Y8 No. 769,524. PATENTED SEPT. 6, 1904.

H. E. WINANS. SINGLE TRIGGER FIREARM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1

zsnsms-s'mm 2.

NO MODEL.

IE W2 INVENTOI? nz'yfl fihans ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES Patented September 6, 1904.

SINGLE-TRIGGER FIREARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 769,524, da ed September 6, 1904.

7 Application filed August 6, 1903. Serial Nol68,4=86. (No model.)

To (all 2077,0171. it 771.017 concern:

. Be it known that I, HENRY EDWARDWINANs, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Poughkeepsie, in the county of Dutchess and State ofNew York, have invented a new 'and Improved Single-Trigger Firearm, of

which the following is a full, clear, and exact description. 1

My invention relates to improvements in that class of firearms which employ a single trigger in connection with the two locks of a double-barreled gun. 1

A practical and successful device of this character must fulfil two important requirements-first, freedom from a tendency to discharge both barrels in. rapid succession by an involuntary pull on the trigger, and, sec; ondly, the ability of the user to select at will the right or left barrel for service.

The device to be hereinafter describedas one embodiment of the present invention meets both of these requirements by an extremely simple, eflicient, and durable construction which is not liable to get font of order and which may, furthermore, be easily removed, repaired, and replaced without dismantling the other elements of the firearm.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear inthe course of the subjoined description, and the novelty will be defined by the annexed claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding partsiin all the figures.

Figure l is an elevation of a firearm with parts broken away and showing myimproved single-trigger mechanism in side viewn Eig.

2 is a vertical longitudinalsectional-view through the parts comprising.the improved trigger devices removed from,the fi rearm. Fig. 3 is a plan view of thepar-ts shown by Fig. 2, illustrating alaterally-adjusted position. oftheselective trigger by dotted lines. Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section through the stock of the gun, illustrating the relative positions of the two gun-locks to the singletrigger device of my invention; and Fig. 5 is a l horizontal longitudinal section through the single-trigger device on the dotted line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

In Figs. 1 and A of the drawings 1 have shown my single-trigger device as applied to a double-barreled shotgun of that type known as breakdown hammer-guns; but it will be understood that I do not desire to confine my invention to this particular type of ploy the single-trigger mechanism in connection with any kind of double-barreled gun.

A designates a portion of the standing breech, which contains the firing-pins b, adaptedto be acted on by the hammers B C for A portion of the gun-stock is indicated by dotted lines at F in Fig. 1, and one of the barrels is indicated at G in the same figure. Each gunlock is of ordinary construction in that it embraces a mainsp'ring cand a sear, the sear for the right-hand gun-lock D being indicated at (Z, and the sear for the lefthand gun-lock E being indicated at (Z in Fig. 4c. The construction of the gun and its looks may be similar to any approved type of firearm, and the only change which I have made in this part of the gun consists in the arrangement of the tailpieces c e in diiferent horizontal planes. on the sears (Z cl, respectively, said tailpieces e a extending inwardly and toward each other from the respective sears (Z (Z, and in thenormal positions of the sears (when both of the gun-locks are cooked) said tailpieces e for the left-hand sear cl lie somewhat below the horizontal plane of the tailpiece e ofthe right-hand lock-searcl, as

shown in Fig. 4.

stock is attached altrig ger-plate 5.

post 6, in which is produceda threaded socket 7 adapted for the reception of one of the screws bywhich the trigger-plate is fastened firearms, because I reserve the right to emthe right and left gun-locks D E, respectively.

The stock F of the weapon is recessed ofr cut I The trigger-plate is shown as having an upstanding.

to the gun-stock. The trigger-plate is provided at a point intermediate of its length with a longitudinal slot 8, in which is arranged to play a blade 9 of an ordinary trigger 10. This blade of the trigger is provided with an upwardly and forwardly extending ear 11, and the upper rear part of said trigger-blade is provided with a straight inclined sear-engaging face 12 and with a shouldered portion 13, which forms another sear-engaging face l t, the latter lying in an inclined plane parallel to and below the sear-engaging face 12 of the trigger-blade, as shown more particularly by Fig. 2.

15 designates a carrier for the trigger, the same being mounted upon the trigger-plate 5 so as to be capable of a lateral shifting movement thereon, whereby the trigger is adapted to be brought into cooperative relation to the tailpieces on the scars of the right and left gun-locks. This carrier is shown in the form of a block, which is provided with a tubular depending boss 16, that is fitted revolubly in an opening of the trigger-plate in order that the carrier may be mounted pivotally on said plate. The pivotal boss of the carrier is formed with athreaded socket, which is adapted to receive the threaded shank of a headed screw 17, that is arranged to act against the under side of the carrier-plate and to confine the carrier 15 to pivotal movement on said trigger-plate. The carrier is forked or bifurcated, so as to provide a longitudinal slot or kerf 18, in which is loosely fitted the forwardly and upwardly extending ear 11 of the triggerblade 9, and this trigger-blade is connected pivotally to the laterally-swinging carrier by a transverse pin 19, which passes loosely through the ear and is fixed-in the carrier at the upper forward end thereof. The carrier is capable of turning in a lateral direction and on a vertical axis afforded by the pivotal stud 16 and the screw 17; but the pin 19 is arranged in a horizontal position, so as to afford an axis of movement for the trigger 10, said axis of the trigger being horizontal and at right angles to the axis of the carrier 15, as will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 2. The carrier is normally impelled in one direction by means of a spring 20, the same being secured by a screw 21 to the upstanding post 6 of the trigger-plate, and this springis disposed laterally with respect to the carrier for its free end to engage with one side of the carrier in order to force said carrier and the trigger toward the right-hand side of the gun-stock, whereby the trigger occupies a position for the face 12 to lie below the tailpiece e of the sear d 'of the right-hand gun-lock D. The trigger and its blade 9 are normally depressed, so that the front edge of the triggerblade engages with an adjustable stop-screw 9, which is attached to the pivotedcarrier, and this trigger is pressed against the stopscrew by the employment of a spring 22, the same being arranged above the trigger-blade and attached to the trigger-carrier by a screw 23. The spring 22 is thus mounted on the carrier for lateral shifting movement therewith, and it normally engages with the blade of the trigger in order to depress the latter to a position below the tailpieces of the sears forming parts of the two gun-locks.

In the drawings I have shown each of the springs and 22 as consisting of two flat plates of metal imposed one upon the other in a way to form compound leaf springs; but it will be understood that I do not strictly confine myself to this special form of spring.

The shoulder 13 at the rear part of the trigger-blade may be made in one piece with said blade, or it may be made by a fiat plate secured in the desired position to the blade; but in either case this shoulder should be provided with a rearwardly-extending tooth or spur 24:- With this tooth is adapted to engage a locking-detent, which is shown in the form of a plate 25, that is slidably mounted on the trigger-plate 5 in a position for engagement with said tooth 2 1 of the triggerblade. The plate 25 is provided with a longitudinal slot 26, through which passes a limiting-screw 27, the latter being fastened to the trigger-plate. The rear part of the slidable detent is provided with a stem 28, the latter being slidably fitted in an upstanding chambered guide 29, provided on the rear part of the trigger-plate 5. Around the stem of the slidable detent is fitted a coiled spring 30, which is contained in the chamber of the guide 29 and is arranged to act against the detent in a way to normally impel the latter to a forward position. The front end of this detent 25 is provided with a lip 32, arranged to form a shoulder 33 on one side, the other side of the lip 32 being beveled in two directions, as shown by Fig. 3. The slidable detent 25 is furthermore provided with a depending ear 34, having a serrated lower edge and forming a thumb-piece which is extended below the trigger-plate and is normally exposed to view outside of the gun-stock, so that it occupies an exposed position and is readily accessible by the finger 0r thumb of the operator in a way to permit the detent to be operated by hand at any time.

The tendency of the spring 20 is to force the carrier and the trigger toward one side of the slot in the trigger-plate, and owing to the strength of this spring and the extended area of the trigger-blade 9 considerable friction is liable to take place between one wall of the slotted trigger-plate and one face of the trigger-blade. To minimize the friction, I employ astud or pin 35, which is secured to the trigger-plate in position to fit in a recess 36,which is provided in one face of the laterally-swinging trigger-carrier 15, said pin serving as a 'stop. in limiting "the movement of the trigger carrier "under the influence of the spring 20 and in retaining the trigger-carrier and the trigger-blade in such positions that said trig: ger-blade will not have frictional engagement with one wall of the slot. The small stop or pin'35 provides a minimum amount of surface for the frictional engagement of the triggercarrier-therewith.

It will be observedthat the'triggerplate V carries all the parts of the trigger mechanism 'ger mechanism for face 12.1ies below 7 hand gun-lock sear (Z, substantially as shown" is desired to expldde the tending tailpieces e e by th the said trigger to be ad usted to operate the right -lock and. then the left lock, or vice versa,,as It should be borne inmind that in the normal positionof the trigger it is adjusted to actuate the right lock; but the operator canpress the trigger laterally toward :the left, so as to turn the trigger and'the car-i except the gun-locks, and this trigger-plate is adapted to be easily and quickly dismounted from the gun-stock, so that ready access can be obtained to any of the parts of the trig; the purpose of cleaning, oiling, or repairing the same.

After the parts shall have been properly assembled the trigger and its carrier are held by the spring 20 right-hand gun-lock D. This spring 20 acts on the carrier to pressthe tion of the trigger, wherein the sear-engaging the tailpieceeof the right by Fig. 4:. Hit I charge in the right-hand barrel, the operator cooks the hammer B and pulls the trigger,

which turns on the pivot'19 and is raisedfor the face 12 to "engage with the sear taile, thus j releasing the searof. the right-hand .lock D, spring c'impels the hammer' the right-hand firing pin" 6, thereby exploding the cartridge in the barrel. 1

"The blade 90f the trigger whereupon the forcibly against 12 14 arevery narrow,'as shown .by Fig. 3,

and this blade of the trigger is? arranged to play in the space between. the inwardly-ex of the two sears. If -it is desired to discharge a cartridge in the deft-hand 'barrel,"the trigger should be operated by a'pull in a lateral and rearward direction; thereby shifting the carrier 15 on thej vertical axis afforded by thestud 16 and'mov ing the trigger-blade on the pin 19 in a vertical direction, thus bringing thesear-face 14" o'fthe trigger-blade into engagement with the tailpiece e of the left-hand sear; whereupon the hammer of the left-hand lock is actuated hand firing-pin b and'exp'lode said charge;

One of the important features of my .inven 7 tion is the ability of the sportsman to select either the right or left cartridges for service,

in this connection it is to be observedthat trigger and the cooperating detent allow and maybe desired.

in position for operating the latter against the stop 35, and saidcarrier determines the posiand the sear-faces position below gun-lock D. a

As hereinbefore indicated, an important' e hammer-springso as to strike the left-;

' low the tailpiece e.

rier against the energy of the spring '20, thus bringing'the sear-face 14 of the trigger blade in position below the tailpiece eof the left gun-lock Without operating the trigger in an upward direction or moving it on the pivot 19. When the trigger and its carrier are shifted toward the left, the projection the trigger-blade engages with the shoulder 33 of thedetent, said detent yielding in a backward direction to the pressure exerted on the beveled face of its lip 32'by the projection 24 of the trigger during the lateral shifting movement thereof. The detent'and its lip 32 the deflected position (indicated by d otted lines in Fig. 3)'until it is desired to use the lefthand gun-lock, and in said adjusted position of the trigger the sear-face 14 of the triggerblade lies below hand lock Eun'til such time as it is desired to explode the charge in the left barrel. It

.operate to hold the trigger and its carrier in the tailpiece eof said left- I is only necessary to pressupwardlyon the" for the proper operation shoulder'33 of the detent, 'thus allowing the spring 20 to become active in pressing the trigger andits carrier 15 back to thenormal position and toward the right-hand sear-tail e, the beveled rear face of the pro ection 24 riding on the beveled face of the lip 32, form- :ing a part of the detent 25, so as to guide the trigger and insure its return to the normal the right-hand sear e of the feature of the invention is the construction .and arrangement of the parts a way to overcome a tendencyto fire a second barrel by the involuntary pull--that is to say, when trigger and turn it on the pivot 19 to operate the left-hand lock B4,. and during this upward movement the face letof the trigger engages with the sear-tail e.

of the lockE; When the trigger is raised, as just described, the projection24: clears the the trigger is operated to release one lock the tendency in the action of the gun is to throw the trigger to 'a position wherein it will oper cartridge.

ilo

ate the other lock immediately following the discharge of the first To overcome this objection, which is a serious one in the class of single-trigger guns, 1 have arranged the. trigger for operation in connecpieces operate as stops in limitingthe lateral swinging movement of thetrigger. Assuming that the trigger is operated to release the ;haminer of the right-hand lock, the. pressure 'tion with the tailpieces e e of thetwo gun- J -lock sears in such a way'a's to make the tailof the spring 20 tends to keep'the trigger in position for its shoulder or blade 12 to lie be When, the trigger is pulled laterally'end rearwardly, the lateral LmOVement thereof is 'arrestedby the shoulderv j 12 coming into abutting engage-ment'with the tailpiece .e of the. left hand lock sear, said tailpiece a being disposed in a lower horizontal plane than the tailpiece 6, whereby the shoulder 12 is caused to take a position below the tailpiece 6'. It is evident that before the left-hand lock can be operated by the trigger it is necessary for the operator to again pull the latter in a rearward direction, the detent serving as the means for holding the trigger in the laterally-deflected position toward the left and in cooperative relation to the tailpiece of the left-hand lock. ger is again pulled to operate the left-hand lock, the shoulder 14 is raised for the operation of the tailpiece e and the projection 24: clears the shoulder of the detent, whereby the shoulder 12 of the trigger is raised above the tailpiece e and into the plane of the tailpiece 6. Now when the trigger is released and free from the restraint of the detent the spring 20'acts to press the trigger toward the right-hand lock, and during this lateral return movement of the trigger the part 12 thereof strikes the tailpiece e, which temporarily arrests the movement of the trigger toward the right, after which the spring 22 becomes efiective, so as to depress the trigger and cause the shoulder 12 to take aposition below the tailpiece 6.

From this description it will be evident that the arrangement of the tailpieces c e in different horizontal planes makes them serve as stops in limiting the lateral swinging movement of the trigger, and by placing the shoulders 12 1 1 in different horizontal planes they are caused to assume proper positions with relation to the tailpieces of the two sears for the operation of said sears when the trigger is operated in a predetermined manner by the sportsman, the entire group of devices operating in a way to overcome thetendency to fire a second barrel by the involuntary pull.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a firearm, the combination with a plurality of sears having spaced tailpieces lying in different planes transversely of the firearm. of a laterally shiftable carrier, a trigger mounted on said carrier for adjustment therewith, and provided with sear-faces located in different horizontal and vertical planes, and adapted to have engagement individually with the tailpieces of said sears, means for holding said carrier and trigger in position for cooperation with one sear, and a detent adapted for cooperation with, said trigger whenadjusted into cooperative relation with the other sear. 2. In a firearm, the combination with a plurality of sears, of a laterally-shiftable carrier, a trigger pivotally connected to said carrier for movement therewith, means for holding said carrier in position for the trigger to cooperate with one sear, and a yieldable detent disposed for interlocking engagement with said trigger and lying in the path thereof dur- When the trig-- ing the lateral shifting movement with the car- 6 5 rier, said detent being disposed to retain the trigger and carrier in position for cooperation with the other sear.

3. In a firearm, the combination with a plurality of sears having spaced tailpieces lying in different transverse planes, a laterally-shiftable carrier, a trigger having a blade which is provided with separate sear-faces and is arranged to play between the tailpieces of said sears, to be limited laterally thereby, a spring for holding the trigger and carrier in one position, and a detent lying in the path of the trigger and arranged to have interlocking engagement therewith when adjusted to a laterally-shifted position wherein it is adapted for cooperation with the other sear.

4. In a firearm, the combination with a plurality of sears having tailpieces, of a pivoted laterally-shiftable carrier, a trigger pivoted to said carrier for movement therewith and having separate sear-faces arranged for cooperation individually with the tailpieces of the looks, a trigger-spring mounted on said carrier for adjustment therewith and having engagement at all times with the trigger, means for holding the carrier and trigger in position for cooperation with one sear, and a detent disposed to retain the trigger in operative relation to the other sear.

5. In a firearm, the combination of a pair of sears, a trigger-plate, a spring-actuated carrier mounted on said trigger-plate for laterally-shifting movement thereon, a stop-pin of smallarea for arresting the movement of the carrier in one direction under the action of its spring, a trigger pivoted to said carrier for adjustment therewith, and a detent for retaining the trigger in cooperative relation to one of the scars.

6. In a firearm, the combination of a plurality of sears having tailpieces disposed in different horizontal planes, a single trigger capable of a lateral shifting movement and opera ble between said tailpieces of the sears, said trigger being provided with shoulders disposed at different elevations and adapted for individual cooperation with said tailpieces' 7. In a firearm, the combination of a plurality of sears having tailpieces disposed in different horizontal planes, a single trigger capable of a lateral shifting movement and operable between said tailpieces of the locks, said trigger being provided with shoulders disposed at different elevations and adapted for individual cooperation with said tailpieces, and a detent slidable with relation to the path of shifting movement of said trigger and arranged to hold the latter in position for operating the tailpiece of one of said sears.

8. In a firearm, the combination of a plurality of sears having tailpieces, rier, a trigger pivoted to said carrier and having sear-faces disposed in different planes and a pivoted cartailpieces of the sears, a spring acting on the to this specification in the presence of tWo suband acting on the trigger; and a detent dis- HENRY VVINANS,

adapted for cooperation individually with the In testimony whereof I have signed my name carrier, another springmounted on the carrier scribing Witnesses. posed in the path of" the trigger and adapted Witnesses:

to retain it in cooperative relati onto one of TQ K LLER, said sears. T. KELLER, Jr. 

